Abandoned steelworks looks like 'post-apocalyptic wasteland'

Yahoo News Photo StaffNovember 16, 2017

An abandoned steelworks that looks like a post-apocalyptic wasteland similar to Westworld has been transformed into an artist’s haven. Far from its days of producing over 250 tons of steel per day, this steelworks in Birmingham, Ala., has lain dormant for 40 years, a sad ode to its long-forgotten wonder years long.

The 2,000 acres of land is a mixture of derelict decomposition, rusting machinery, overturned offices and broken equipment. The impressively derelict site captivates the eye due to its unusual state even hosting exposed brickwork from a boiler explosion never fixed.

The site was operational until 1971, when its furnaces were permanently turned off due to increasing labor costs, imports and other factors. It was then left to rust until 1993, when the owner began inviting artists from all over the world into the workspace to start producing pieces for the Birmingham Museum of Art.

The unusual location, which is nearly 140 years old, not only serves as a muse to contemporary masterpieces and it also hosts workers mining the grounds for dolomite and limestone. (Caters News)

An abandoned steel foundry that looks like a “post-apocalyptic wasteland” has been transformed into an artists’ haven. (Photo: Abandoned Southeast/Caters News)

Abandoned steelworks looks like ‘post-apocalyptic wasteland’

Far from its heyday when it produced more than 250 tons of steel per day, this steelworks in Birmingham, Ala., has lain dormant for 40 years, a sad ode to its long forgotten wonder years. (Photo: Abandoned Southeast/Caters News)

Abandoned steelworks looks like ‘post-apocalyptic wasteland’

The 2,000 acres of land is a mixture of derelict decomposition, rusting machinery, overturned offices and broken equipment. (Photo: Abandoned Southeast/Caters News)

Abandoned steelworks looks like ‘post-apocalyptic wasteland’

The impressively derelict site captivates the eye due to its unusual state, even hosting exposed brickwork from a boiler explosion never fixed. (Photo: Abandoned Southeast/Caters News)

Abandoned steelworks looks like ‘post-apocalyptic wasteland’

The site was operational until 1971, when its furnaces were permanently turned off due to increasing labor costs, imports and other factors. (Photo: Abandoned Southeast/Caters News)

Abandoned steelworks looks like ‘post-apocalyptic wasteland’

It was left to rust until 1993, when the owner began inviting artists from all over the world into the workspace to start producing pieces for the Birmingham Museum of Art. (Photo: Abandoned Southeast/Caters News)

Abandoned steelworks looks like ‘post-apocalyptic wasteland’

The unusual location, which is nearly 140 years old, now serves as a muse to contemporary masterpieces while on the grounds, workers mine the outside land for dolomite and limestone. (Photo: Abandoned Southeast/Caters News)

Abandoned steelworks looks like ‘post-apocalyptic wasteland’

The blogger behind the Abandoned Southeast says: “The place resembles a post-apocalyptic wasteland, there’s so much stuff scattered around. … Large construction equipment, cranes, trucks, even boats are stashed throughout the old steel mill.” (Photo: Abandoned Southeast/Caters News)

Abandoned steelworks looks like ‘post-apocalyptic wasteland’

“I think that whenever a piece of equipment broke, the owner would just park it in the mill and leave it, as there are all sorts of stuff. It’s interesting to me seeing what was left behind.” (Photo: Abandoned Southeast/Caters News)

Abandoned steelworks looks like ‘post-apocalyptic wasteland’

“A lot of the buildings still have pieces of machinery inside them; it’s amazing to see how much is still intact almost 100 years later.” (Photo: Abandoned Southeast/Caters News)

Abandoned steelworks looks like ‘post-apocalyptic wasteland’

“There’s one part of the steel mill where a boiler blew up and half the building exploded, bricks and rubble are still scattered around.” (Photo: Abandoned Southeast/Caters News)

Abandoned steelworks looks like ‘post-apocalyptic wasteland’

“There’s a lot of activity here day to day, from either the active quarry that surrounds the steelworks or from the artists themselves.” (Photo: Abandoned Southeast/Caters News)